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Zany, zooidal zonation in Zanesville

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A large number of wild animals escaped from a Zanesville area animal preserve Tuesday, where the owner of Muskingum County Animal Farm, Terry Thompson, was found dead.


As a result, several Ohio schools near the preserve have canceled classes Wednesday.


According to a CBS/AP News report, the preserve was home to bears, wolves and large cats, including lions, tigers and cheetahs.

The fences had been left unsecured at the Muskingum County Animal Farm in east-central Ohio, and the animals' cages were open, police said.

Officers said as many as 25 escaped animals that had been shot and killed by law enforcement.

"These are wild animals that you would see on TV in Africa," Muskingum County Sheriff Matt Lutz said.

The sheriff said the escaped animals were "mature, very big, aggressive." The preserve was home to 48 animals.

"This is a bad situation," Lutz said. "It's been a situation for a long time."

Lutz said his main concern was protecting the public. "Any kind of cat species or bear species is what we are concerned about," Lutz said. "We don't know how much of a head start these animals have on us."[[In-content Ad]]

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